How long to give antibiotics to work?

Tooth out Saturday - bad infection as a result - incredible pain - go to GP yesterday who confirms infection and fever - get antibiotics (Augmentine forte) just took day 2-1 of tablets (so taken 3 now) and 2 more panadeine forte and 1 x voltaran. Notice mouth is more swollen today than yesterday - yesterday it was just full of pus but this morning my tooth socket and all around it, and all round that side of the mouth is incredibly swollen and kills. I am sure the pain relief will kick in soon to get me through to the daylight part of morning. What then - obviously this pain is tremendous - how long do antibiotics take to kick in and therefore take away this hell?? Dentist knows and said to take course of antibiotics and I have a follow up appointment on Saturday. What is next step if it gets worse?? Do I just wait for antibiotics to hope to do their thing? Or should they have started their magic by now - the GP said the antibiotics should start working immediately. I confess I felt a tad better last night, but now I'm in agony :-(

I'd be on the GP's door step as soon as they open, appointment or not but honestly, if you are in that much pain I'd be heading to the ER to be checked out - I've left infections go assuming that the antibiotics will fix it up - they didn't and I ended up in hospital. Ice pack might help externally in the mean time to numb it slightly but I'd go now to the ER. Hope you feel better soon though.

I am naughty, and usually take a double dosage of an anti biotic when I start a course to get more in my system quickly.

However, I think that you should notice a difference within the first 24 hours, and a definate improvement within 36 hours of commencement. I would make another appt for this afternoon with GP if I was you, and just see if it improves by then. If it does then you can always cancel the appt.

Certainly don't think you should go to the ER unless the pain is so unbearable, as the hospital will see that you have only just be put on anti biotics, and will probably do nothing more at this stage.

Antibiotics usually start working within 24-48hrs for me. For toothache I found the best drops are 'Oral Eze Dental Toothacke Emergency Drops'.They are like heaven. Taste like hell if you get it on your tongue. However they work fantastically with the numbing.

Call the dentist again. You may need the infection drained (sounds bad but gives a lot of relief) and this is better to be done sooner rather than later. This is what I did 2 days after I got an infection after a tooth removal. Really helped. I did have to insist to the dentist that they had to look at it again.

Also I'd make another appointment with the GP, you may need a different antibiotic or another to go with it. Augmentin is usually a great drug for oral infections but there's a small chance that the bacteria aren't sensitive to it. Usually antibiotics start working 24-48hours after you start them. If you start feeling better by lunchtime you can always cancel the doctors appointment.

Fell asleep after I posted this with the drowsy pain meds and slept through til now not in massive pain. If it gets wore through the day again I will call gp. I was a bit off with the pain fairies this morning. Might give antibiotics a bit longer though.